Ruffling attachment for sewing-machines



(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.,

T. L.MELONE.

EUEELING ATTAGEMENT EOE SEWING MACHINES.

No. 378,705. Patented Peb. 28, 188.8.

N. PUERS Phowulhogmpwn wnhimo. DJ;

(Modem 2 sheets-*sheet 2. y

T. L. MELONE.

Y EUEELING ATTACHMENT EEE SEWING MACHINES; No. 878,705'.y Patented Feb. 28, 1888.

N. Pneus, Phowumogmpm, wuhnmon, D. c4

Unire@ STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.,

THOMAS L. MELONE, OF CHILLICOTHE, OHIO.

RUFFLING ATTACHMENT PoR SEwlNe-MACHINES.

SPECIPICATICN forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,705, dated lE'ebruaryZB, 1888.

Application filed May 17,1883. Serial No; 95,189. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, TrroMAs L. MELONE, of Chillicothe, in the county of Ross and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Itufflers for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a ruftiing attachment for sewing-machines adapted to derive its motion from the shuttle-arm; second, to provide a ruflier having all its working parts located beneath the shuttle-slide, so as to be out of the way of the operator, and, third, to secure positive conncctionsof all the parts, so that there shall be no loose joints to rattle.

My invention consists of a rufiiing attachment for sewing-machines deriving its motion from the shuttle-ar1n or shuttle movement of the machine, and a presser-foot entirely separate from the blade of the rufliing attachment, but designed to work in connection therewith, said attachment being provided with either a single or double ruffling-blade with the teeth turned outward to rnflie against the throatplate or foot, or: both at once, as may bc desired. 4

In order that myinvention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a top view of my improved `iuffiing attachment. Fig. 21's a bottom view; Figs. 3, 4, and 5, respectively, side, top, and bottom views of my improved presserfoot; Fig. 6, the ruffier in connection with the presser-foot, showing the cloth before and after ruffling. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of my device, showing it in operative position relatively to the bed and shuttle-arm of a sewingmachine, and in dotted lines in its forward position.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the main plate of the rui-ller adapted to be secured in the shuttle-slide opening of a sewing-machine.

B is a lug` projecting down and outward from the plate A,and provided with a lever, C, pivoted thereto, the said lever C having a short arm, o, operating in a slot in a slide, I). Ihe

forward end of the slide D turns upward and passes through a slot in the plate A. To this portion of the slide Dwihich lies above the said main plate, is riveted or otherwise suit ably attached the rufiiing bladeor blades R.

Dis a guide-pin in the plate A, passing through a slot in the slide D, for guiding the movements of the said slide. y

E is a spring attachedat one end to the short arm c of the lever C, and at the other to asuitable projection, e, for the purpose of producing the backward movement of the ruffierblade R.

By this construction and arrangement of the parts I am enabled to overcome the objectionable feature heretofore existing of having the working parts of the attachment located above the shuttle-slide and in the place intended for the hands of the operator, which should be clear of obstructions to permit of the free movement of the goods.

F is a cam-lever pivoted eccentrically to the plate A in the rear of the rufl'ler-blade, by means of which the strokeof the ruffling-blade is lengthenedor shortened. A cam-lever, G, is also attached-to the plate A for the purpose of locking the rufiierin proper position inthe shuttleslide.

H is a presser-foot having suitable means for attaching it to the presser-foot bar and having a forward extension, 7L. In the sides of this extension are cut slots or openings h and li", which lie in planes transverse to the direction in which the work is fed and form tongues designed to separate the several stri-ps of fabric from each other. The piece of goods to be rufed is inserted in the forward slot, lt', while the piece of goods to which the ruflled piece is to be stitched is inserted in the rear slot, It, the two pieces being separated by the tongue situated between the two slots. Secured to the under side of the presser'foot is a plate, K, formed, preferably, 0f spring-steel, which eX- tends rearward from a point beneath one of the tongues formed-by the slots 7L and It" to the opening I, through which the needle descends. This is for the purpose of preventing the teeth on the extremity of the rnfiiingblade R from penetrating the piece of fabric to be ruffled and engaging the upper piece, or the piece to which the ruffled piece is to be stitched. This plate K should extend rearward sufficiently ICO far to form a bearing for the rufliing-blade throughout its entire stroke. The slots t and 71. are shown in the drawings as formed in the opposite sides of the presser-foot, whereby they are made to act as guides for limiting the eX- tent to which the edges of the two pieces of goods shall overlap. The needle moves through the holes represented at I.

The connection between the lever G and the shuttle-arm may be accomplished by means of a lug, a spring, or a strap, whichever may be preferred. The .ruffling blade or blades are cut away on the left side at r to form a guide for turning under astrip of heading below the ruffle.

The operation of my ruflier may be seen in Fig. 6. The strip or piece to be ruffled is fed through the gage or opening h of the presserfoot. The strip for heading is fed through the opening 71. above the piece for ruffling. The ruffler-blade, operated by the lever C, as described, moves against the under side of the piece for ruffling, and forms the laps, as shown in the drawings, immediately before its reaching the needle, where it joins and is sewed to the heading-strip. If it is desired at the same time to put this ruffle and heading upon the bottom of a dress-skirt, it may be done by turning the edge of the skirt in a fold and passing it downward through the guide 1^. Or in case it is wished to sew a ruffle and heading upon the skirt at some distance from the bottom, the heading is folded upward and passed downward through the guide o". The strip to be ruiiled passes over the blade between it and the foot, and is guided with the hand by the turned edge of the heading. The skirt passes over the strip to be ruffled, and between it and the foot. In this case all of the goods are turned wrong side u p, and the skirt is held in check by the hand to keep it from being gathered by the rufflingblade. It is necessary in this form of the rufller to prevent the action of the feed-points by fitting around them a thin piece of steel or other metal, through which the needle passes. This strip also fills the space left when the feed'drops, which is cut away under the foot to let the ruining-blade to the needle. This space would permit the goods to lift with the needle, and thus cause dropping of stitches if the space were not occupied by the strip.

In case the blade is made to do the rufliing against the throat-plate, the action of the spring and lever is reversed, so that the thrust of the blade is made by the action of this spring and not by the lever, the latter serving to retract the blade at the time of the downward stroke of the needle-bar, both reaching the end of their stroke at the same time. On the upward stroke the spring acts immediately and completes the thrust of the blade before the feed lifts above the throat-pl ate to engage the goods, and rests until the stitch is tightened, thus dispensing with a blade to sepcrate the rufding-blade from the feed-points, as is customary in a drop-feed sewing-machine.

In this form the blade should be fastenedy to the upper fold of a guide folded upon itself, so as to admit the ruffle from opposite sides.

By getting the motion for my ruffling-blade from the shuttle-arm I disconnect the blade entirely from the presser-foot of the machine, and am enabled to get my gages upon the foot and into the closest proximity to the needle, and secure free and unobstructed access for the goods to the needle, which enables me to sew ruflles upon the work with a drop-feed machine in a great variety of ways which are desirable, but which are impossible with a rufiler deriving its motion from the needlebar. I thus greatly facilitate this class of work.

The size of the ruiiie can be altered by simply turning the cam-lever F on its axis.

I am aware that it has been proposed to cut a slot in the side of the presser-foot, whereby 'a rigid tongue is formed for separating the piece of fabric to be ruffled from the piece to which the rufiled piece is stitched. Such I do' not claim as my invention, which consists in securing to the under side of the presser-foot a plate which extends rearward from a point beneath the tongue thus formed and covers the slot through which the upper piece of goods passes.

I-Iaving` thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In arufiiing attachment,the combination, with the main plate having a longitudinal slot, of a slide secured to the under side of said plate and having an upturned portion extend ing through said slot, to which the rufflingblade is secured, and a horizontal arm pivoted beneath the main plate and having connection with said slide and the shuttle movement, as set forth.

2. A ruffling attachment for sewing-inachines having a main plate adapted to be secured in the shuttle-slide opening, a lug eX- tending downwardly and outwardly therefrom, and a lever pivoted horizontally to the said lug and adapted to receive motion from the shuttle-arm and transmit it to a slotted plate on the under side of the main plate,as set forth.

3. A rufiiing attachment for sewing-machines consisting of a main plate, A, downwardl y and outwardly projecting lug B, lever C, having arm c, and the slide D, situated beheath and extending upward and through a slot in the main plate, for operating a rufflingblade, as set forth.

4f. A ruffling attachment for sewingmachines, as described, with a main plate having a slide bearing the ruiiiing-blade, the said slide moving upon the upper and lower surfaces and in a guide-slot of the main plate, substantially as described.

5. The milling-blade having an opening in the side as a guide for a re-enforcing piece, as set forth.

6. In a ruffiing attachment for sewing-machines, the main plate having a slot, as de IOO IIO

scribed, and a slide, D, carrying the rufiiingchnes, a presserfoot having openings in its blade and extending through said slot and rest- I opposite sides forming guides for the goods to ing and sliding upon both faces of the plate, be operated on, and provided With a iiexiblc in combination with the pressenfoot H,.sub plate attached to the under surface of the I5 5 stantiaily as herein described. presser-foot between the guide-openings'ibr 7. In a raming attachment for sewing'maseparating the goods, as described. chines, a presserfoot having guidcopenings in its opposite sides, in combination with a rui'iiingbiade having an opening in its side7 Witnesses: lo as and for the purpose set forth. JOHN T. RAPER,

8. In a ruff-ling attachment for seWing-ma- A. C. IRELAND.

THOMAS L. MELONE.. 

